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Windows 11 Copilot is now a standalone app, not the old integrated sidebar. Before installing it, identify which app you need: Microsoft Copilot is the free assistant for personal Microsoft accounts, while Microsoft 365 Copilot is the work, school, and Microsoft 365 productivity app.
This guide covers downloading either app, signing in, using the main features, changing Windows and privacy settings, fixing common problems, and completely removing the consumer Copilot app.
Microsoft Copilot vs. Microsoft 365 Copilot
The names are similar, but the apps serve different purposes.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| App | Best for | Account required |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Copilot | General questions, web answers, writing, images, voice, Vision, and selected PC information | Personal Microsoft account for sign-in |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | Work or school chat, Microsoft 365 files, Office apps, Search, Library, and agents | Work, school, or eligible personal Microsoft 365 account |
If a work account will not sign in to the regular Microsoft Copilot app, that is usually expected. Install Microsoft 365 Copilot instead. Available features also depend on your Microsoft 365 license and your organization’s policies.
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Download Microsoft Copilot for Windows 11
On many newer Windows 11 computers, Microsoft Copilot is already installed. Press the Windows key and search for Copilot before downloading anything.
If it is not installed, use the Microsoft Store:
- Open Start and select Microsoft Store.
- Search for Microsoft Copilot.
- Open the app published by Microsoft Corporation. Check the publisher carefully; avoid third-party copies.
- Select Get or Install.
- Open Copilot from the Store, Start menu, or taskbar after installation.
The normal Windows installation comes through the Microsoft Store. You do not need to download a separate official Copilot .exe installer.
Download Microsoft 365 Copilot
For work, school, or Microsoft 365 productivity features, install Microsoft 365 Copilot from the Microsoft Store or Microsoft’s official Microsoft 365 Copilot download page. Open the app and sign in with the account associated with your Microsoft 365 organization or subscription.
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Sign in to Copilot
Microsoft Copilot
Open Microsoft Copilot and choose Sign in. Use a personal Microsoft account such as an Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, or Microsoft account address. Signing in enables features including conversation history, longer conversations, longer voice usage, and additional image creation capacity.
Microsoft 365 Copilot
Sign in with your work or school account. If Copilot is unavailable, your organization may not have assigned the required license or may have disabled the feature. Contact the administrator rather than installing an unrelated Copilot package.
Copilot features in Windows 11
Feature availability varies by account, region, language, subscription, and Microsoft’s staged rollouts. The consumer app can include the following:
- AI chat: Ask questions, request explanations, brainstorm ideas, rewrite text, summarize content, or create outlines.
- Web-grounded answers: Copilot can use current web information rather than relying only on its underlying model.
- Image creation and editing: Generate images from descriptions and modify supported images.
- Voice conversations: Talk to Copilot instead of typing.
- File upload: Upload supported files and ask questions about their contents where the feature is available.
- Conversation history: Return to previous chats when signed in.
- Vision: Share an app or browser window so Copilot can discuss what is visible.
- PC insights: On some devices, Copilot can report information such as storage, CPU usage, battery health, BIOS version, connected devices, and selected files.
Other experiences, including Deep Research, Copilot Pages, Shopping, and Podcasts, may appear only for certain accounts or regions.
Use Copilot Vision
Vision does not control your computer. It can analyze shared content, but it cannot click, type, scroll, or change settings for you.
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- Open the Microsoft Copilot Windows app.
- Select the glasses icon in the message box.
- Choose the app, browser window, or screen to share.
- Ask questions about the visible content.
- Select Stop when finished.
You can select up to two apps at a time. The shared context is cleared when the session ends. Vision requires sign-in and is not available to commercial users signed in with an Entra ID account.
Use PC insights
PC insights is experimental and is being released gradually. It requires permission before accessing system information or selected files. It does not automatically repair problems, change Windows settings, run troubleshooting commands, monitor the computer in the background, or access files without permission.
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| Shortcut | Result |
|---|---|
| Windows + C | Opens the configured Microsoft Copilot or Microsoft 365 Copilot experience. If Copilot is unavailable, it may open Windows Search. |
| Alt + Space | Opens or closes Quick View in the native Microsoft Copilot Windows app. |
| Dedicated Copilot key | Opens the Copilot experience assigned to that key. The exact behavior depends on the keyboard and Windows configuration. |
Depending on the app and account, Windows + C may open the full app or a smaller Quick View window. The dedicated Copilot key has also replaced different keys on different keyboard designs, including the right Ctrl or Context Menu key.
Show or hide the Copilot taskbar button
Hiding the taskbar button does not uninstall Copilot and does not necessarily disable the keyboard shortcut or Copilot key.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Personalization > Taskbar.
- Turn Ask Copilot on or off.
Change what the Copilot key does
On current Windows 11 builds, use this path:
Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Keyboard > Shortcuts and hotkeys > Customize Copilot key on keyboard
Depending on your computer and installed apps, available choices can include Search, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Custom, and Copilot. The options are not identical on every PC.
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If Ask Copilot is enabled in Taskbar settings, that taskbar configuration can override the Copilot-key selection. Older instructions that use Settings > Personalization > Text input refer to an earlier Windows 11 layout.
Enable or disable “Hey, Copilot”
Both Copilot experiences may offer an opt-in wake word, although the exact setting depends on the app and account.
In Microsoft 365 Copilot, open Quick View settings and enable Listen for “Hey Copilot”. The app must remain running, including minimized or in the background. Windows displays microphone activity in the system tray when listening is enabled.
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In the consumer Microsoft Copilot app, look in Copilot’s settings for the Hey, Copilot wake-word option. Disable it if you do not want the app listening for the wake phrase.
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Change Copilot privacy and data settings
In the consumer Microsoft Copilot app, open your profile and go to:
Profile > Settings > Privacy
Depending on your account, you may find controls for:
- Training on conversation activity
- Training on voice conversations
- Personalization and memory
For memory and personalization, use:
Profile > your profile name > Memory > Personalization and memory
Microsoft usage data is available under:
Profile > your profile name > Memory > Microsoft usage data
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Clear Copilot browsing data
The Windows app also has browser-style controls:
Profile > Settings > Browsing settings > Web data and security > Clear Browsing data
Optional diagnostic-data controls are under Web data and security > Privacy. If enabled, the app can also import site data from Edge. Manage that setting at:
Profile > Settings > Browsing settings > Sync and import > Bring over your site data from Microsoft Edge
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Remove Microsoft Copilot from Windows 11
Uninstall through Settings
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for Copilot.
- Select the three-dot menu next to Copilot.
- Choose Uninstall and confirm.
You can also open Start > All apps, right-click Copilot, and select Uninstall.
Be careful to select the correct app. Removing Microsoft Copilot does not remove Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot features inside Office, or web access to Copilot.
Uninstall with PowerShell
For the consumer Microsoft Copilot package, run Windows PowerShell under the user account from which you want to remove the app:
$packageFullName = Get-AppxPackage -Name "Microsoft.Copilot" | Select-Object -ExpandProperty PackageFullName
Remove-AppxPackage -Package $packageFullNameThis removes the package for that user. It does not block a future installation for every user or every computer.
Uninstall with WinGet
If Windows Package Manager is available, try:
winget uninstall "Microsoft Copilot"You can also use the aliases:
winget remove "Microsoft Copilot"
winget rm "Microsoft Copilot"If WinGet reports multiple matches, list the installed packages first and run the uninstall command with the exact displayed name or ID. Do not guess between Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Enterprise blocking and removal
On managed computers, administrators should use application control rather than relying on a user’s uninstall option. Microsoft recommends AppLocker for blocking the consumer Copilot app; the older “Turn Off Windows Copilot” policy and its MDM equivalent are subject to deprecation.
Microsoft documents these AppLocker package values:
Publisher: CN=MICROSOFT CORPORATION, O=MICROSOFT CORPORATION, L=REDMOND, S=WASHINGTON, C=US
Package name: MICROSOFT.COPILOT
Package version: *An appropriate AppLocker rule can prevent installation or block the package from launching. Organization administrators should test the rule before deploying it broadly.
Fix common Copilot problems
Copilot is not in Installed apps
The app may not be installed, Microsoft Store installation may be blocked, or an organization may have applied AppLocker or another application-control policy. Also check that you are searching for the right product name.
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If the app appears but behaves incorrectly, try:
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Select the three-dot menu beside Copilot.
- Choose Advanced options.
- Select Repair.
- If Repair does not help, select Reset.
Repair attempts to fix the app without removing its data. Reset is more destructive and may clear local app data or require you to sign in again. These options are not available for every app.
The taskbar button keeps appearing
Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and switch off Ask Copilot. This hides the button; it is not the same as uninstalling the app.
Windows + C opens Search
This can happen when Copilot is unavailable, disabled, or uninstalled. The shortcut is not guaranteed to open the old Windows Copilot sidebar. Current Windows 11 versions use a standalone app and may route the shortcut to the installed Copilot app, Quick View, or Search.
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Features are missing
Check the account type, Microsoft 365 license, region, language, organization policy, and Microsoft Store updates. PC insights and other newer features are released gradually, so two Windows 11 computers can show different Copilot options even when both are fully updated.
FAQ
Is Microsoft Copilot already included with Windows 11?
It may be preinstalled on newer Windows 11 PCs, but it is a separate app. Search for Copilot in Start, or install the official Microsoft Copilot app from the Microsoft Store.
Can I use a work account with the Windows Microsoft Copilot app?
The consumer Microsoft Copilot Windows app requires a personal Microsoft account for sign-in. Use Microsoft 365 Copilot for work or school access; availability depends on your organization’s license and policies.
Does hiding the Copilot taskbar button uninstall Copilot?
No. Use Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Ask Copilot to hide the button. To remove the app, use Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Copilot > Uninstall.
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Why does Windows + C open Search instead of Copilot?
Windows + C can open Search when Copilot is unavailable or disabled. Its behavior also depends on which Copilot app is installed and how Windows is configured.
The Bottom Line
Install the correct Copilot app from the Microsoft Store: Microsoft Copilot for personal AI assistance, or Microsoft 365 Copilot for eligible work, school, and Microsoft 365 accounts. Use Taskbar settings to hide its button, the Keyboard settings path to change a Copilot key, and Installed apps to uninstall it. If features or sign-in options are missing, check the account type, license, region, rollout status, and organization policy before reinstalling.
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